Dewey Beach employees accuse town manager of sexual harassment and more

Friday

Jun 16, 2017 at 2:00 PM

Letter to the Mayor and Commissioners demands firing of Marc Appelbaum. Read the letter at the end of the story.

By Shannon Marvel

Several employees of the Town of Dewey Beach, including the police chief, multiple other police officers, the captain of the Dewey Beach Patrol and the Dewey Beach building inspector have released a letter to the Mayor, Commissioners, and residents of the town calling for the immediate firing of Town Manager Marc Appelbaum.

The letter demands the "immediate and permanent removal of Mr. Marc Appelbaum as Town Manager," citing sexual harassment, "abusive conduct towards all employees/lack professionalism," racial discrimination, "jeopardizing public safety by improper interference with Dewey Beach Patrol," improper interference with the office of the building inspector and other misdeeds.

Prior to listing the violations, the letter states, "Each of these violations has been reported to one or more Town Commissioners, who have done nothing to remedy these violations but rather have intentionally turned a blind eye, while allowing Mr. Appelbaum to run roughshod over the rights of employees and citizens of the Town."

The DBP's Sgt. Cliff Dempsey and DBP Captain Todd Fritchman said they could not make any comments and referred Sussex Living to their lawyers.

Mayor Dale Cooke said that given that the letter threatens a lawsuit, he also could not comment. Commissioner and former mayor Diane Hanson was still unaware of the letter at 1 p.m. on Friday.